In the mid-1930s, 16-year-old Eric Gabriel dares to move to the French colony of Madagascar to finally be reunited with his father, who successfully runs a vanilla plantation there. Unaware of his grandfather's history as a pirate and steeped in the traditions of a generation of seafarers, Eric is confronted with the ominous reality of rebellious locals, local uprisings and the intentions of Nazi Germany. In this turbulent environment, Eric seeks support in his first love and the brotherly friendship with a young Malagasy from the workers' village. While he searches for his place in the hierarchy of his father's company, the unknown past of his family threatens to catch up with him.